Hydrox Corporation, formerly known as Hydrox Co.,[1] was an American food company based in Chicago. Founded in 1888 by the Consumers Company and Chauncey B. Blair, it manufactured both ice cream and soft drinks.

Hydrox
Hydrox Corporation
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryFood processing
Founded1888; 136 years ago (1888) in Chicago, U.S.
Founders
  • Chauncey B. Blair
  • Consumers Company
Defunct1988 (1988)
Headquarters
Chicago, Illinois
,
United States
Area served
United States
ProductsIce cream; soft drinks

History

edit

Early history

edit
 
A Hydrox ad from 1917–18

Hydrox was founded in 1888[2][3][4] by the Consumers Company[5] and Chauncey B. Blair.[6] It first sold drinks such as root beer and ginger ale, but soon started making ice cream, which became its main product.[4] In 1917, Thomas McInnerney split the company from the Consumers Company.[7] Heavy post-war advertising and several slogans during 1917–1918 led to the rise of Hydrox.[8] By 1920, Hydrox was the most popular ice cream brand in Chicago.[9] Hydrox bought the Collins Bros. and Thompson-Reid ice cream companies in 1921.[10]

Absorption into National Dairy Products and beyond

edit
 
Hydrox trucks in 1922

Around 1922, Hydrox absorbed the New York-based Shevers Company, a business which was growing.[11] In December 10, 1922, Hydrox's ice cream division was sold to the National Dairy Products Corporation.[12] Hydrox had "the finest ice manufacturing plant" according to the Sunday Tribune in 1923.[13] By the mid-1920s, it had four factories, all located across Chicago,[14] and in the late 1920s the company had started a free ice cream campaign, with over 7,000 dishes given around April 1929.[15] Hydrox was also known for giant trucks with huge lettering that read "Hydrox Ice Cream".[16] By December 31, 1942, Hydrox had expanded to Missouri and New York.[17]

On some occasions, Hydrox was advertised as "Graf's Hydrox", despite not being owned by Graf's and having no relation.[18]

Hydrox Soda was distributed by E. Minkowski and Kenosha Liquor Co around the 1940s.[19]

Shutdown

edit

In 1986, Hydrox Soda had published its last known ads.[20][21] The following year, 1987, Hydrox Ice Cream also had its own final advertisements.[22] Around 1988, their Chicago headquarters, which was located on 415 E 24th Street, was demolished.[23] The building was known to have been used by an auto body firm around 1988.[24]

Products

edit

Hydrox products consisted of ice cream and soda and had many flavors. It started in the markets in 1892 with distilled water,[25] and its initial product listings included sarsaparilla, birch beer, lemon soda, root beer, and ginger ale.[26] Other products produced by Hydrox included Sparkling Hydrox, Hydrolaris and Hydrox Lithia.[27] Its introduction of ice cream in 1910[25] proved to be highly successful.[citation needed] Its ice cream was reportedly made from the Guernsey cattle of the famous Glenwood family.[28] Hydrox Swizz, from the 1970s, appears to be at least inspired by Mountain Dew.[29][citation needed]

Logo history

edit

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Ice Cream Review. Miller Publishing Company. 1926.
  2. ^ Moody's Manual of Railroads and Corporation Securities. Moody Manual Company. 1924.
  3. ^ Forest Leaves. Hall-Heileman Company. 1922.
  4. ^ a b The Annalist: A Magazine of Finance, Commerce and Economics. New York Times Company. 1923.
  5. ^ "About 3". The City Beyond the White City. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  6. ^ Judicious Advertising and Advertising Experience. Lord and Thomas Publishing House. 1918.
  7. ^ Hadden, Briton; Luce, Henry Robinson (1931). Time. Time Incorporated. p. 47.
  8. ^ Judicious Advertising and Advertising Experience. Lord and Thomas Publishing House. 1918. pp. 37–40.
  9. ^ "Winnetka Historical Society Gazette" (PDF). p. 5.
  10. ^ Ice Cream Trade Journal. Cutler-Williams Company. 1915. p. 30.
  11. ^ The Soda Fountain. D. O. Haynes. 1923. p. 70.
  12. ^ Commission, United States Federal Trade (1935). Report of the Federal Trade Commission on the Sale and Distribution of Milk and Milk Products. U.S. Government Printing Office.
  13. ^ The Sunday Tribune. The Sunday Tribune.
  14. ^ Spurr, Henry Clifford; Nichols, Ellsworth (1924). Public Utilities Reports. Lawyers Cooperative Publishing Company. p. 344.
  15. ^ Ice Cream Review. Miller Publishing Company. 1928. pp. 48–49.
  16. ^ Records and Briefs of the United States Supreme Court. 1932.
  17. ^ Survey of American Listed Corporations: Registrants and Subsidiaries. Securities and Exchange Commission. 1942. p. 149.
  18. ^ "Kenosha News from Kenosha, Wisconsin". Newspapers.com. June 8, 1938. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  19. ^ "Kenosha News". Kenosha, Wisconsin. May 2, 1946. p. 21.
  20. ^ "Chicago Tribune". Chicago, Illinois. March 2, 1986. p. 537.
  21. ^ "Journal Gazette". Mattoon, Illinois. February 1, 1986. p. 22.
  22. ^ "The Reporter Dispatch". White Plains, New York. January 4, 1987. p. 57.
  23. ^ "Resource details | The Art Institute of Chicago". archive.artic.edu. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  24. ^ "Chicago Tribune". Chicago, Illinois. March 16, 1988. p. 39.
  25. ^ a b Office, United States Patent (1912). Decisions of the Commissioner of Patents and of the United States Courts in Patent and Trade-mark and Copyright Cases. U.S. Government Printing Office.
  26. ^ The Clinical Review. Clinical Review Publishing Company. 1898.
  27. ^ The Chicago Blue Book of Selected Names of Chicago and Suburban Towns ... Chicago Directory Company. 1898. p. 808.
  28. ^ Plumbe, George Edward; Langland, James; Pike, Claude Othello (1911). The Chicago Daily News Almanac and Year Book for ... Chicago Daily News Company.
  29. ^ "HYDROX-Citrus soda-355mL-United States". canmuseum.com. Retrieved June 21, 2024.